The Tree of Hands tells the story of an affluent young woman, Benet, who has a two-year-old son named James.

A sub-plot involves a young man on a council estate who is deeply in love with a woman, Carol, who has several children from previous partners.

Benet, at first horrified at what her mother has done, begins to realise that little Jason has been abused (she finds cigarette burns on his body) and grows to love him.

The sub plot (Carol and her friends and family) evolves into murder and betrayal, and a very clever twist involving the sale of a house in Hampstead.

The title "Tree of Hands" refers to a piece of artwork displayed on the wall in the ward that James was admitted to when first taken ill.